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Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Lakagigar Volcano Chain, Iceland

Postcard Book
The Earth From the Air
Yann Arthus-Bertrand

Lakagigar Volcano Chain, Iceland

Lakagigar, in southern Iceland, still bears the scars of one of the most violent volcanic eruptions in recorded history. In 1783 two eruptive fissures, a total of 15 miles (25km) long, opened up on both sides of Lake volcano, vomiting 4 cubic miles (15km3) of molten rock that engulfed 225 square miles (580 km2) of land, the largest lava flow in human memory. A cloud of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and ash spread over the entire island and contaminated grazing land and surface waters. Three quarters of the livestock was annihilated, and after a second eruption in 1785, a terrible famine decimated a quarter of the population (more than 10,000 people). The fissures of Lakegigar, crowned by 115 volcanic craters, are today closed up, and the streams of lava are covered by a thick carpet of moss. Iceland has more than 200 active volcanoes and has produced one-third of all discharges of lava occurring around the world in the course of the last 500 years.

Facts about my collection...

I have been collecting stamped, mailed postcards since 1973. I have cards made from plastic, fabric, wood, metal, leather, and paper. Also, cards announcing the wrong person as president of the U.S., cards that are actual puzzles, cards that are playable records, light switch covers and a card mailed from the initial flight of the Hindenburg, 3D cards, hold to light cards, 1912 Titanic postcard and just about everything you can think of! So far I have over 12,000postcards scanned with many more still to go.

Postcrossing

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One of the TOP TEN postcard blogs!

This blog has been named one of the top ten postcard blogs by ephemera.typepad.com.
I would like to say thank you, and I'm glad so many people now get to enjoy my postcard collection. The computer is truly a wonderful thing!